Wayne State University hikes tuition 4.5% as board member addresses critics of encampment takedown

Among those who spoke was the Rev. Carl Gladstone, a clergy adviser to the Motor City Campus Ministry.

"I speak on behalf of faith leaders from various traditions and denominations expressing our profound concern and condemnation regarding the police brutality against students and community members that occurred on May 30," Gladstone said. "We understand the demands of the students and divestment from war and weapons manufacturing to be a good and just pursuit for which you should take pride as university leaders. Instead, you authorize the deployment of riot police and the use of brutal force against members of our communities.

"As an interfaith group of leaders, we urge the university to uphold the principles of justice, equity and respect for all individuals."

Naznin Mahmood, a WSU alumna and pediatric neurologist at Children's Hospital of Michigan, also spoke.

"We as immigrants and minorities want an education that is world-class ... and an education that is not funded by the profit-based war machines," Mahmood said. "These are the injustices that we and our ancestors fled from, and our current students are joining us in this heartfelt desire as they see genocide in Palestine."

Chloe Lundine, a 2015 WSU alum who now works at the university in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Academic programs, said she put signs on her office door that said, "Let Palestine live and end occupation now," but was told to take it down or resign.

"History will remember this moment," said Lundine. "It will remember that when faced with controversy, you chose to hide behind screens rather than uphold the principles of free speech and open dialogue and that you violently disbanded a peaceful gathering of students and community members. ... Today's decision to avoid confrontation will be your legacy, and our legacy will be standing up to that injustice."

After the public comment ended and Espy was about to adjourn the meeting, Board Vice Chair Bryan Barnhill spoke to those who came forward, acknowledged their pain and said he hoped for a university full of critical thinkers.

"I simply don't think that divesting from Lockheed Martin or Boeing will accomplish the goal of creating peace in Gaza, and I don't want to give students the impression that that is going to be it," Barnhill said. "I want you to have a level of critical thinking and the wherewithal to understand that in order to address complex issues, you have to do more than yell at people who ultimately would pass a policy that is tantamount to just a gesture.

"If we want to devote ourselves to achieving peace, we've got to embrace the reality that it's going to require much more of a disciplined focus. ... I just want you to really reflect on what we're doing here."

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